28 March 2023 , 16:25
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The Los Angeles Rams are the latest NFL team to enter the Odell Beckham Jr sweepstakes after Sean McVay confirmed his interest in sealing a return for the star wide receiver.
Coming off the back of a 5-12 season and woeful defence of their Super Bowl crown, the Rams are in need of juice on offence and head coach McVay knows precisely what Beckham can provide in that regard.
The 30-year-old is a free agent after missing the entirety of last season. He was a huge part of the Rams' run to Super Bowl glory, but he has not played since that win over the Cincinnati Bengals 13 months ago after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the second quarter.
Beckham proved his fitness to interested teams at a private workout earlier this month in Arizona, before paying visits to the Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants. After a season of turgid play on the offensive side of the ball, McVay wants to join forces with Beckham again in hope of getting back in playoff contention.
NFL Media reporter Tom Pelissero tweeted on Tuesday: "Rams coach Sean McVay confirms the team has interest in bringing back Odell Beckham Jr. and says he loves him, but notes there’s a lot of other teams interested so they’ll see how it plays out."
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In eight games for the Rams in 2021/22 after being traded by the Cleveland Browns, Beckham accumulated 305 receiving yards and five touchdowns, but it was in the playoffs when he truly made his mark. He racked up 288 yards and hauled in two TDs, including one in the Super Bowl, before being cruelly struck down by injury.
The Rams may be eager to see three-time Pro Bowl receiver Beckham return to SoFi Stadium, but they face significant competition for his services. And after such a decline in performance last season, it is questionable whether Beckham would be interested in a return when he has the pick of the market.
Odell Beckham Jr was a breakout star during his time with the New York Giants, who drafted him in 2014. (Getty)The New York Jets are known to be interested, with head coach Robert Saleh confirming as much, after it emerged that Beckham was on a wishlist of likely new Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who is pushing for a trade from the Green Bay Packers.
“Yeah, there’s always going to be interest with any great player, obviously, but things have to work out,” Saleh said Monday. “Obviously, there’s a whole lot of different things.”
The Giants are keen on taking him back to the Meadowlands, where he played from 2014-18, too. Head coach Brian Daboll said on Tuesday: "I haven't communicated with him directly for the last week or so, but we'll see," before adding he has exchanged texts with Beckham "once or twice" this off-season.
According to the bookmakers, the Rams are very much outsiders in the race for Beckham's services, which reportedly could cost as much as $20million for next season, with the Jets, Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs all rated as likelier destinations.